Inhibitory control in patients with cocaine abuse is equally disrupted by generic and personally salient cocaine images

Abstract

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 146 (2015) e202–e284 e267 Inhibitory control in patients with cocaine abuse is equally disrupted by generic and personally salient cocaine images Gregory J. DiGirolamo1,2, David Smelson2, Nathan Guevremont2, Gerardo Gonzalez2 1 Psychology, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, United States 2 Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States Aims: Todetermine the extent that salient cocaine cues increase breakdown of control in patients with cocaine abuse, wemeasured control over behavior in a task where patients must inhibit an impulsive action and instead look away from a suddenly appearing image. Cueswere personally salient cocaine or neutral stimuli (participants handled them and rated their craving; photos of them touching the cues were used during the task) and generic cocaine (photos of cocaine-related cues) and neutral stimuli. Methods: Twenty-five treatment-seeking patients (M=37.2 yrs; 19males)with a history of cocaine abuse (M=14.6 yrs) and use of cocaine within the last month (16.2 days of use) were inducted into the study. Initial assessments included Voris cocaine craving measures and anti-saccade performance. Results: Voris craving scores were significantly higher (t=5.82, p< .0001) after handling the cocaine cues (M=27.3) than after handling the neutral cues (M=13.3). Inhibitory control was significantly worse (t=2.1, p< .05) for the salient cocaine cues (M=37%) than the salient neutral cues (M=33%). Likewise, errorswere significantly higher (t=2.8, p< .01) for the generic cocaine cues (M=34%) than the generic neutral cues (M=29%). Importantly, there was no hint of a statistical (t<1) or numeric difference in breakdowns in inhibitory control between generic cocaine cues (Mean difference of drug-neutral = 5%) and salient cocaine cues (mean difference of drug-neutral = 4%). Conclusions: Both types of drug cues caused significant breakdowns of inhibitory control. Handling cocaine cues significantly increased patients craving scores; however, these salient drug cues did not induce increased breakdowns in inhibitory control. Preliminary results suggest that personalized and generic drug cues are equally harmful in causing breakdownsof control suggesting a general bias toward drug cues. Neuroimaging studies are underway to test the underlying neural circuitry. Financial support: Supported by NIH-NIDA R03DA029179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.191 Understanding the buzz about energy drink use in college students Pam Dillon, Dace Svikis, David Pomm, Leroy Thacker, Kenneth Kendler, Danielle Dick Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,